Review and respond

19 April 2021

Correcting Misinformation about Internet Usage

I. Introduciton

a. The ability to make information incorrect is quite simple on the Internet.

b. The fact that some of the misinformation that is made is for humorous purposes brings about more fake news into the world and causes gullible people to believe the lies when they are merely just jokes.

c. THESIS STATEMENT: There are many kinds of misinformation that are found across the internet, especially about Internet usage, that include: joking YouTube videos, Satire article sites, and even some outdated sites, and this essay will provide correction in this fake news.

II. IDEA 1: There are two YouTube videos that discuss the topic of the Internet having the ability to make one dumb or affect their mentality, but while one has data that backs its argument, the other is just a mock-up video for entertainment purposes.

A. Misinformation: This YouTube video by CollegeHumor discusses the many different internet personas present today, but the information provided is not backed by any evidence and is mainly used for comedic purposes.

i. The video mainly consists of different actors making parodies of different internet personas and does not describe them in detail.

ii. There is no information to provide nor any detail or thought provided into the topic they show in their title.

iii. This video is for comedic purposes only but can spread quickly like fake news due to its humorous reputation in other mock-up videos.

B. Corrected Information: On the other hand, the YouTube video by BrainCraft explains how the internet is affecting a person’s mentality and uses scientific information to back up its argument.

i. The video offers the idea that because one can search for information so easily on the Internet that one’s memory skill can become deteriorated from lack of proper use.

ii. Although the video is as short as the misinformation, the use of explaining how and why the memory deterioration occurs along with backed up scientific information gives the argument more credibility.

iii. This video is aimed to be informative unlike the previous video where it was for more comedic purposes, and as such is a lot more credible in its information.

III. IDEA 2: Certain web articles on the internet are made for comedic purposes as well and thus can spread fake news more easily, but other articles are made to be informative and provide an example of what news one should look out for in their research papers.

A. Misinformation: An article online discusses the topic of requiring social distancing for social media outlets but treats itself as satire and knows it is not real news.

i. This argument offers some insight into why social distancing should be required for social media outlets.

ii. The argument is never backed up by scientific information or credible sources and is instead used by the author’s own biased tone and lack of personal experience to give credibility for the argument.

iii. Like the previous video, it is made for comedic purposes, can spread easily due to its humor, and, to the gullible mind, may cause some people to believe that social distancing should be implemented to social media sources.

B. Corrected Information: On the other hand, there is an article that discusses the dangers of excess “fact-finding” in relation to one’s memory.

i. This argument provides a look into how an overuse of Internet researching can affect one’s ability to memorize important facts.

ii. Unlike the misinformation, this article does provide scientific research conducted from different universities to back up her argument.

iii. Because the information is made to be informative and provides evidence, it becomes more credible to finding correct news.

IV. IDEA 3: Along with the examples of humorous misinformation, there are some instances where past information can be viewed as misinformation due to research disproving certain arguments.

A. Misinformation: An article that was made in 2008 discusses the many benefits that socializing online and Internet usage has to offer, but because this paper was made in times when online detriments were not proliferate in people’s mindsets and as such can cause people to believe that the Internet has no drawbacks in the present-day era.

i. This document provides some information on the benefits of Internet usage whether it be from surfing the web or socializing online.

ii. The credibility for the information is good at the time it was written, but it is outdated with present-era statistics to be useful in anyone’s criteria about the Internet, and thus can be considered fake news.

iii. There is a lot of information that can change in 13 years, especially people’s standpoints on Internet usage, and awareness of its detriments.

B. Corrected Information: Now, an article that talks about the detriments of socializing online because of increased usage during the pandemic, is an article that was made in recent times that shows how different the outlook of Internet usage changed over the years, especially in the present era.

i. The effects of mobile usage during the pandemic spiked immensely, and as such the detriments have begun to take effect on the affected populace.

ii. The information that it has acquired for the argument is a lot more credible since the topic at hand requires more present-day information.

iii. Thus, this article can be considered more real news since it up-to-date with current studies of the Internet as well as in relation to the topic the argument discusses.

V. CONCLUSION

a. Because of some of these articles being humorous it only further brings about more fake news for comedic purposes, as well as other beings outdated and being referred to as current news can be determined as another spread of fake news, but with the real news provided one hopes to allow the reader to better differentiate the danger of these fake news.

b. With regards to a better understanding of what is considered correct information, one hopes that the dear reader can surpass the lies provided by fake news and stay true to real hard facts.

Works Cited

Braincraftvideo, director. Is Google Killing Your Memory? YouTube, YouTube, November 23, 2013,